Norway
Norway is a vast and scenic country most famous for the phenonomen ‘Aurora Borealis’ or ‘Northern Lights.’ However unfortunately the country is a very expensive place. Expect to pay through the nose for the most basic of items especially food and drinks. Not for those with a light pocket.
- Location: Northern Europe
- Capital: Oslo
- Climate: Cold at best.
- Currency: Norwegian Krone (Nkr)
- Language: Bokmal and Nynorsk
- Related Link: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/norway
June 21, 2007 @ 5:07 pm
Johnny Wellsmere said,
Very nice country, except for the prices. If you don’t have a lot of money,
best to keep moving. Can’t afford to eat or drink. OK if you are a multimillionaire.
July 17, 2007 @ 11:34 am
Dermot said,
Norway is spectacular
July 26, 2007 @ 4:54 am
turki said,
very nice country but do not go thier in winter!!!!
August 22, 2007 @ 3:02 pm
Bernard Hunt said,
See Norway, then die. Starve to death probably. Most expensive country in the world for travelers. If sidewalk stands didn’t offer those $US7 hot dogs we wouldn’t have made it. Hot dogs for breakfast, for lunch, and for dinner. A car for a week — well, sort of a motorized roller skate — cost $US660. And then they swindled me out of another 70 bucks because I didn’t have enough coins to feed one of their incessant toll plaza thingies. Oslo is a lovely city, the countryside and the fiords are spectacular and the people were charming in a rustic, Nordic, way. Bergen and its area were breathtaking. Was Norway worth it? My heart says yes. My wallet says no.
September 19, 2007 @ 9:03 am
tony reed said,
take a look… just see what Norway has got to offer….. There is more to life that 11 pints of lager (or bitter) a night…
February 3, 2008 @ 7:42 pm
cow said,
Norway is just too wealthy. You don’t really see Africans traveling to USA on holiday either. Just cause Norway is too expensive for the average american it shouldn’t be considered a poor destination
P.S. ooooo pretty light!!
April 27, 2008 @ 5:13 am
Ken Reynolds said,
The good stuff in Norway is free. They are not crooks, they don’t charge you to see a fjord! Stop at the small places for take away food. This food can be reasonably priced, you don’t have to eat at a fancy restaurant. Stay at youth hostels, they are comfortable, clean, and full of friendly people, and there is no age limit.
April 27, 2008 @ 12:26 pm
Kim Sikes said,
Norway is beautiful! I was there in 1980, as a result of being deployed to Denmark for a month. I few of us took the the Ferry boat and stayed in a Hostel there. The people were just fabulously nice, polite, proper and charming. It was like the Hans Christian Anderson fairy tales that I read as a child… Yes, it IS a little spendy, but how can one put a price on ‘experience’… I just went for the adventure, and it was well worth it. I imagine the ‘pricey-ness’ would keep the rif-raff out, that’s good thing.
April 27, 2008 @ 4:41 pm
ken said,
Here’s another thing. A US Dollar used to buy 14 Norwegain Kroner, now it buys about 5. That makes things about three times as expensive for Americans as it used to be, without taking inflation into account. Is that their fault?
August 14, 2008 @ 12:25 am
Mia W said,
Rent a simple cabin with 4 beds in the mountains or countryside (from 300 crowns/night), cook your own food - they usually have a very simple “kitchen”. Use public transportation and your legs. And remember: All the best things in Norway are free, the mountains, the fjords, the sea, the clean air and all the wonderful wiews . If you want an urban holiday, go somewhere else!
August 14, 2008 @ 2:38 am
Limpiaparabrisas said,
Worst thing is the horrible food, except for the foreign restaurants in Oslo. The kitchen staff have little idea, particularly in West Norway. No fresh fish (apart from Bergen), and even in Aalesund, once the home of a giant fishing fleet, the last fresh fish shop closed in 2007. The fiords teem with cod and ling but you can’t buy fresh fish anywhere. Nor fresh bread. Only Stranda in county Møre and Romsdal has a bakery-cafe - here again, with unwelcoming personell, usually sour elderly women.
How do I know all this? Have holidayed in my summer cottage in the fiords the past 30 years …
August 14, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Wilhelmsen said,
If you are rich like a Norwegian ( Norway is the richest contry in the world per person) it’s not a problem. But if you want cheap food ( like U.S.) Norway is not the contry.
:D
August 14, 2008 @ 12:53 pm
wilhelmsen said,
one more thing DO NOT TRY TO EAT TRADITIONAL NORWEGIAN FOOD (food from before the time of the oil rigs in the northern sea) it tase terible. I know this because im Norwegian.
August 16, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
Norwegian said,
I live in Norway, and yes it is expensive.
About the myth about cold weather is wrong. Its normally around 30 degrees Celsius (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit (I think)) in the summer, but some places it gets at below -30 degrees Celsius in the winter…
August 19, 2008 @ 12:09 am
Torben said,
The cold weather is not a myth. I LIVE in Norway and it is almost never as hot as 30 degrees C. It is also huge differences in temperature between north and south and mountains and lowlands. In summer when weather is nice the temperature may reach 25-30 degrees at best, when the weather is bad (and that is very often) it may be as low as 5-10 degrees in the north and around 15 in the south.
September 4, 2008 @ 5:34 am
Maren said,
It depends on where in Norway you live… It is very cold in the winter in north, but not so cold in the south.
September 16, 2008 @ 11:49 pm
Annie said,
Well, well…… Some people are never satisfied, no matter if they got everything for free!!!
I am a norwegian myself, but I have lived in the US the last years. When it comes to prices, it is more expencive in Norway…However, the prices in the US the last years has gone up a LOT! Food is almost as expencive over here now as it is in Norway. Some food are actually more expencive!!! IF you go out to eat over here, it is cheaper, but that has also gotten more expencive. Clothes, electronics and other items are almost the same price here as in Norway, wether you believe it or not! When it comes to the weather….yes on an average, it is warmer here. But…..where I live, the winters are MUCH colder and with a freezing wind I have never experienced in my life, and I grew up in northern Norway!! Summer is nice….when it isnt humid…..and believe me, almost all summer is very very humid..so you sit inside with your AC on, and what good is that. Then you have the extreme weather with hurricane, thundestorms, icestorms, powerouts, etc etc. That is just the way it is, Norway can have bad weather, but the US can have some pretty nasty weather as well!!
I love Norway, and I also love the US, 2 different countries with good and bad just as every other country in this world!!
November 27, 2008 @ 4:08 pm
Joey said,
I was just wondering, as I was thinking of becoming a nanny in Norway….is 4500 NOK enough to live on? I will not be paying rent or for food…Just travelling (and i would like to travel as much as possible. but i have friends in amsterdam and ireland.) and clothes and entertainment.
January 1, 2009 @ 8:59 am
Answer to Joey said,
No i wont bee enough, if you want too drink beer. It also depends on what you have too pay in rent. But if the rent is included, you might make it, but you wont have a lot too spend.
But if you are a nanny in Norway for 4500 NOK that is werey low payed. So if i were you i would have asekd for an alowens, or more pocketmoney from the family.
If the rent is included in the job i would say that you make it fine in Norway for 8000 NOK a mounth. Then you also can drink some beer.
Ps. If you are American or from the Euro zone, the Krone has weekend itself ALOT against Dollar an Euro. So the prices has droped for you people now about 20 - 30 % the last 3 mounths. So just this artikkel doesnt count anymore!!! COME WISIT US!!!!
January 1, 2009 @ 6:43 pm
Morten said,
You don’t have to pay tips in Norway
An American will proabably think that the portion of food in restaurants in Norway are small. On the other hand, the portions you get in restaurants in the US is ridiculously large and not healthy for you in the long run…
Norway don’t have those silly 0.25 cl soda bottles you get other places in Europe. It’s Minimum 0.35 in Norway.
Perfume, CD’s, DVD’s, electronics, clothing is for the most part the same price. Perfume is actually a bit cheaper in Norway.
If you for some reason need to buy food / drink other groceries ( not restaurant meal ) go to one of the supermarkets ( Rema 1000, Rimi, Prix, Kiwi,Mega, Meny, Ica ) don’t go to 7/11, Narvesen or gaz stations ( Typical 24/7 shops are expensive in Norway. Basically twice as expensive as a normal supermarket. ) As long as the supermarkets are open, use them. It’s only fools that buy groceries from the typical 24/7 outlets. Supermarkets are generally open weekdays from 10:00 - 22:00.
January 1, 2009 @ 6:51 pm
Morten said,
That Norway is so expensive is total bull, by the way.
Have you guys ever been to Paris for instance ? Or Moscow ? Or Tahiti ?
January 8, 2009 @ 4:14 am
Dan said,
It depends how u see things. It isn’t so much more expensive in Norway, than the rest of the european countries. And have u ever been at Iceland ? Then we talk expensive.
Hotelcosts…..about the same prices there as it is in the other countries.
And the nature in Norway……yes, its worth it. U will never forget the fjords, the mountains, the midnight sun, even the weather u will remember.
January 18, 2009 @ 2:21 am
Rafal said,
I live in Norway and it is not such cold us may You think. Of course if cold for You is 70F… then I recommend You not move from equador
In my definition Norway is not cold it has average climate (which means perfect for me). More You can find here: http://zoom-in-norway.blogspot.com/2009/01/myth-nr-1-in-norway-is-cold.html
July 6, 2009 @ 2:37 am
KMJ said,
We just had over a WEEK with 35 degrees C (95 degrees F) ! And we had a real bommy winter… Fine, It changes a lot but thats just the way it is! And yeah it’s expensive and that sucks, but if you make your money here, you can afford it…
July 9, 2009 @ 7:29 am
will said,
this whole website is utter shit i’ve been to 3 of the destinations on this website including Norway, Paris and Indonesia only a couple of weeks ago. I had fantastic holidays at all three destinations. Norway is a beautiful country and well worth visiting.
July 11, 2009 @ 7:34 pm
Hampus said,
Why would you go there? Norway is pretty cold and expensive and whatever you might name nice there, you can find it at better prices somwhere else… ok, ok, cities (Bergen, not Oslo) and Fijords… well I found the ones in sweden and finland just as good… somehow better. Midnight summer, mountains and forests…see above at cheaper prizes. Food is average-low and you don’t want to try the traditional norwegian, believe me. People are polite (not waiters, often sour and unwelcoming that’s another story) but they look down on turists so forget getting into their grace. Well, if you go for the adventure than ok… but are you sure there’s nothing just as adventurous for less?
July 11, 2009 @ 8:27 pm
Gary said,
Do yourselves a favour and skip the eurozone. Go to South East Asia and or Australia, it’s cheap, beaches are the best in the world, way of life is vibrant and the weather is much nicer than those dark, damp and depressing long european winters. Also, the food in most asian countries actually has a taste to it. One piece of advice, avoid Jakarta (filthy dirty hell hole) and Kuala Lumpur (incredibly dull and boring) Manila (certain areas are very dangerous) and Sydney (over priced and over rated). Bon voyage.
July 21, 2009 @ 6:54 am
Justin said,
Norway has beautiful nature and interesting history. But every single time I have been to Oslo it rains. At the risk of being lynched by Norwegians, I say if you want a mini break to a Scandinavian City go to Stockholm, which is so pretty and fairytale like, especially at Christmas, and unattractive people are banned from ever appearing in public.
October 28, 2009 @ 5:55 am
Joe Di Maggio said,
Simple question– How much does it cost to buy a steak in the supermarket in Norway? A soda? bread? spagetti? chicken? Kentucky Fried chicken? Microwave food? This is what I’m interested to know and would give an idea on how expensive it is vis-a-vis other European countries and the U.S.
November 27, 2009 @ 9:14 am
Jack spicer said,
norway is a brillant place faggots
January 4, 2010 @ 4:27 am
Norman Bates said,
Norway is a beautiful country and I had a wonderful holiday, but I did notice that Norwegien women’s vagina’s smelled strongly of fish. I would guess that the Norwegien diet (seafood) has something to do with it. When I flew back home from Oslo I discussed this matter with a fellow passenger on the plane. He agreed that fishy vaginal odor is a persistent problem among females in that country and he recommended I avoid oral sex with them in future.
February 10, 2010 @ 9:54 am
Disty said,
this place roxs and everyone will love it I did it for a french winter presentation and we had so much fun doing it.
February 24, 2010 @ 2:40 pm
Osc said,
One thing America has that Europe doesnt is cheap food, transportation, electronics and clothing. Norway is a nice country, If you want to live an american lifestyle in Norway it will cost you big money. Since most American tourists fail to realize that they are in a continent where driving is a privilege that costs much more money than the amazing public transport systems. Americans see this as an expensive country, since stuff costs more than it does back home. Fuel prices are the highest in the world, maybe McDonalds is the cheapest restaurant in Norway, if cooking is not an option sorry there are no tv dinners in Europe. So a word to the wise tourist, have an extraordinary vacation, avoid the major cities and attractions. See the nature, then go rent a place, go to the local grocery store and pretend to be a citizen of that country. Hey maybe you could settle down buy a house in northern scandinavia for the same price as your hotel stay in OSLO or Stockholm.
March 4, 2010 @ 1:31 pm
Henrik said,
No, Houses in Norway is never cheap, not even for the inhabitants!! The USA has really cheap houses
In fact the last 10-years the houseprices has nearly doubled!
April 29, 2010 @ 11:42 am
Robert said,
Norway is one of the most expensive and worst countries to live in. Average income for an engineer is 230000 NOK /year after taxes (36% income tax, 28 % VAT). Rent is about 10.000 NOK/month for a small one bedroom apartment in Oslo. Food Costs 7000Nok /month. As an engineer, having worked there for three years I could save almost nothing. The people are shy, distant, and don’t like to answer if you don’t speak perfect norwegian. Not a friendly bunch at all. If you are not family, you basically don’t exist for them. I wish I hadn’t wasted my life there. As a travel destination, spend the same money in a sunny country, that has the same kind of beauty, with nice people to hang our with.
May 9, 2010 @ 3:32 pm
You heard it here said,
I live in Norway but I am from the UK. Apart from the scenic views there is literally not much else to write home about. I guess it is nice for a trip but to live there is another thing. Not the most frustratingly annoying thing about Norway is the high prices for commodities but the lack of choice. Elsewhere you you have THE OPTION to buy cheap things and sacrifice on quality; you can spend a bit more and get value for money;or you can go the whole hog and buy top of the range quality products and pay more. In Norway you are FORCED to pay stupid amounts of money for a product that is ridiculously overpriced and you are not getting the best quality. This my friends is because Norway promotes Norwegian brands and want the money kept within the Norwegian economy. Hotels completely lack any kind of grandeur in comparison to the rest of Europe. But this is mainly because Norwegians a) do not value conveniency and b)are so insecure and socialist they are defensive and scared of money and “look down” on wealth and people with money.
What is even more scary is the lengths that Norwegians and Norwegian media go to prevent the rest of the world knowing how backward their little country is. Its is the most miserable and isolated place I have ever lived in, a far cry from how Norway is portrayed to the rest of the world.
May 18, 2010 @ 6:23 am
Jah Kass said,
Norway is pretty cool, which is more than I can say about this website.
There are people on here complaining that French scenery is disappointing and that Norway has nothing unique to offer!
WHAT!?!? Seriously! You are all freakin’ retarded if you believe that for a second. The gorgeous French Riviera, and the awe inspiring Norwegian FJords and Northern Lights, if you’re not moved by these then you have no human emotion and should just spend your life in a Walmart in Hicksville USA. At least then you won’t complain about prices because even your mediocre salaries will be sufficient there.
Pathetic the lot of you.
May 30, 2010 @ 10:08 am
Enrico said,
I have lived in both countries for many years, and i have to say that i missed America. Norway is a beautiful country, but they are losing their traditional Norwegian culture to the foreigners that are taking over the country. The prices in Norway are ridiculous, and that is due to the socialized government that taxes all the inhabitants and tourists. I have had several businesses in Norway, and I decided that it wasnt worth the hard efforts that i put into the company, because i felt when i had employees i was punished by the government with even more taxes. Norway does have charm to it, and i like visiting it but i couldnt live there again.
Ill give you some examples of prices, 1 gallon of gas, is around $11, a large bigmac menu is 75NOK which is $13, a 2007 BMW M5 which i had costs $65000 in USA and $ 250,000 in Norway. A decent steakhouse dinner with wine is about $120 per person.
My advice if you are planning to visit Norway is dont go to restaurants, and try and find cheap supermarkets like rema 1000 or kiwi and make your own food. If you can use public transportation it will be cheaper but not so much fun. and BRING YOUR UMBRELLA because it rains Big time!!
June 15, 2010 @ 8:13 am
Adrian said,
Hey! Why do you all talk about huge taxes and expensive restaurants ?
. They don’t spend holidays in Norway, they can afford to go anywhere they want.
I am not Norwegian but i work and live in Norway with my family. Has anyone of you any knowledge about where all the taxes go ? Have anyone of you been in a Norwegian hospital ? Have anyone of you meet a Norwegian doctor or a sales person in a supermarket ? Have anyone of you noticed that all Norwegian speak at least English ? ( This says a lot about the education system ) Has any US citizen free social and medical assistance even if he/she does not have a job ( my family gets free social and medical insurance just because i’m paying taxes to Norway) ?
From my point of view all the taxes and high prices are normal for that life style.
And one more thing, but not the last, for a Norwegian, any other country in the world is cheap
June 15, 2010 @ 11:07 pm
Joe said,
Planning to visit Norway this summer!! We got divided opinions here - expensive living conditions and beautiful place - seems normal for tourism!! However can anyone from Norway guide me for a cheap apartments across Norway? Tromso, Stryn, Bergen and Oslo? Going with family 2+1+1!!!
July 3, 2010 @ 8:13 am
Porree said,
Norway is scenically amazing.The price of ffod and drink is ridiculously high.
However I had so much free love with amazing norwegian gals that the other expenses
were worth it
July 4, 2010 @ 4:47 pm
SamR said,
It’s the EXCHANGE RATE that kills the tourists. Very, very costly place to take a holiday vacation.
At 6.4 NKr/USD and 9.6 NKR/GPB (June 2010), the drinks average $15-25 each, food starts at $15+, even chinese or Thai restaurants have entrees starting at $25+. Forget wine at dinner, the cheapest is $60+.
Needless to say, we were shocked; Oslo made Stockholm and Tokyo look cheap. And btw, we live in London.
Basically the Norwegians sell their oil and build reserves of other countries’ currencies (when they ‘buy’ the oil) and thus command extremely favourable exchange rates. It’s brutal on anyone’s wallet. Overpaying 2x-4x what a similar object or service costs in Europe, Asia, LatAm, or the U.S.
If you want camping, glaciers, fjords, 20 hours of daylight, boat rides, seafood etc. at normal values go to Alaska or Sweden. You’ll easily save 100’s of dollars or pounds, especially at the former.
July 4, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
TJ said,
BTW, the a large driver of Norway’s “wealthiest” country in the world per capita is (a) very limited immigration and thus steady population count, and (b) exchange rates that are very strong versus sterling or the dollar.
Purchasing price parity does not exist there. I frankly do not understand why every Norwegian does not take massive NYC shopping trips like twice a year - clothes, electronics, cars, jewellry, etc. They would fall down laughing ond they convert their kroner to USD and buy a dinners at Jean Georges for 1/3 what a pizza would cost in Oslo!
July 7, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
jojo said,
This in response to TJ’s commet:
Well said TJ. I’ve been there and liked it, but its very expensive. I may have to immigrate there because of my fiance in Oslo. I’m doing the planning and just live off of groceries and save to go to NYC, Paris, & Berlin to shop for “good stuff”.
August 3, 2010 @ 5:57 pm
Petter Lade said,
In Norway, even though it is tecnically illegal, it is very easy and risk free to buy narcotics. From early in the morning several drug dealers openly sells you whatever you desire outside the main rail station in Oslo. The quality is excellent. Personally I prefer meth, but they got everything you would want and due to the competition the prices are acceptable.
August 4, 2010 @ 1:32 pm
J Luis said,
Just came back from a very expensive trip to the Fjords and the North Cape.
Landscape wise it was a very satisfying experience. Something to remember for the rest of your life. As for the natives I did talk to some and they all spoke fluent English (which is better then say the french or Spanish that only speak their own language). They do complain about things being expensive because everything is so state-controlled, yes and the crappy climate. Another thing is that I never in 12 days saw a single policeman… no crime? Why do tourists want to buy so much crap anyway? Just keep it simple and buy traditional food for souvenirs in supermarkets and eat fast food and you will make it through the visit and when you get back home you can fire up your BMW and eat gourmet. BTW I am from Portugal which is when of the most cost efficient places to tour on a budget.
August 22, 2010 @ 5:50 pm
Vasso & Kostas said,
We are travelling to NordKapp from Greece with our motorbike & staying in campings all this time. We are travelling since 01/07/10 because we lost our jobs in Greece due to the economic crisis so we have time for travelling. We have visited so far France, Ireland, England, Scotland, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and now Norway. We are 1.000km before NordKapp.
Indeed, super market prices are higher. But in Amsterdam/NL it is amazingly expensive too. As well as in Monaco/FR.
We cook our own food. Camping is cheaper in Norway than it is in Italy or even France, with much more facilities than France/Ireland/Scotland.
The scenery as we move to Northern parts of Norway is amazing. (Yes, Scotland above the Loch Ness is beautiful too, with lochs, mountains and islands but their tiny mosquitoes called MIDGES is why you cannot enjoy their nature during summer months).
Even though it’s summer it is cold, but that is why we have clothes. In Greece & Italy nowadays it’s 40C degrees and you can’t even breathe if you’re away from A/C.
[As fas as Greece is concerned, before EURO all European countries were expensive to visit. After EURO, Greeks cannot even live in their own country. Petrol in Greece costs 1,50e/lt, and in Norway costs 1.54e/lt… If Norway is fine for Norwegians, then who am I to judge? After all, if one needs a pair of new sneakers, he/she can choose eBay to buy..]
No Norwegian invited me to visit this country & all Norwegians I have met so far speak bad about being expensive here, and young people (outside Oslo) want to move to another EU country. This is a problem their government should consider.
However, the government seems to be spending a lot of money on road constructions. New roads are all over Norway.
‘Holidays’ has a different meaning for each person. To me, exploring is the issue. Since every one of us has web access, just a web search before arranging a luxury trip in Norway would have saved many people a lot of money.
Just for information, in Ireland costs 8e/person to see the Cliffs of Moher +parking cost. It costs just to see the nature…
I guess, a solution would be to spend the greatest part of holidays in Sweden & arrange some day trips to Norway.
Spending my holidays in a different place away from home just to drink alcohol & eat food on a low budget, then most probably I would choose Thailand.
I like that everyone speaks English in Norway.
The worst of all, is that I got a speed ticket after overtacking a truck driver who was extremely slow.. 20km above speed limit costs 800euro… The police officer didn’t even consider that we are tourists, so I don’t care how much oil they have left, but I will definetely not pay this ticket even if I may not come back to Norway again…
October 28, 2010 @ 5:28 pm
Steven Gerrard said,
Norway is the greatest country in the WORLD! And there lives the most beautiful girl I have ever seen in my life
Expensive though! Is it worth being skint having a Norwegian girlfriend? definitely!
November 8, 2010 @ 1:44 pm
Lars Sjo said,
Norway is the worst place! i live here myself. grown up here.. and now im dying.. what a great life i must say. live in a shitty country.. die in a shitty country.. life well spent ? oh hell no..
November 9, 2010 @ 9:34 am
Carlos said,
sup
November 14, 2010 @ 7:00 pm
Heath said,
I did want to visit Norway but fuck that!! SO expensive!
January 5, 2011 @ 5:14 pm
Tom said,
haha, hilarious reading all this!
If you don’t have the money, do not come to Norway : )
It is as simple as that! I pretty much enjoy living here, and I can’t really say that it is expensive here either. But compared to other countries, yes it is expensive, ofc.
But we also earn alot more money in general aswell, so that prob why we don’t notice this “expensiveness” here.
But yeah, it is pretty easy, like I mentioned. Do not visit Norway if you got no money, you’ll definately need them here, since nothing is free here…..(Oh, nature, fjords, mountains and terrain is free) But I guess not everyone is like Bear Grylls.
And please, people who say norway is a shitty country, go fuck yourself! Don’t get mad because you don’t have the money to live here. I actually found out that, with the money I make from my part time job in Norway, (I work 2 days a week since i study) I can rent an apartment, fuel a car, and go to the restaurants every single day if i lived in the USA.
But dudes, enough bullshit… Try norway sometime, definately worth a visit. Just start saving now ;D
January 22, 2011 @ 2:01 am
Damian said,
Some classic pitfalls are that most people think you can get from A to B easily. If you go to for example Bergen, you are stuck there unless you take a flight. And it is really expensive. I heard from Americans who started their Europe trips in Norway that it was so expensive they had cancel half their upcoming destinations because they were already halfway down their budgets. And I am really not joking. Ask me personally, I rather go to a little more unsafe country than to a country where I have to pay 5 euro for a bottle of water. Places like Japan, scandinavia and switserland are way too expensive beyond believe. Scandinavia has very little to offer. Similar environment can be found in different places in cheaper countries. I hope one day they will realize that working with high salaries is just pathetic. It is bad for their national tourism, as I already know that these countries are cold and dark for half a year. I was travelling in Scandinavia for 2 weeks in May and I had one week of heavy rainfall, all 2 weeks everybody was wearing gloves, earmuffs and scarves. It was even too cold for the locals. Besides that, all over the world countries are getting more expensive. Romania, Thailand, China.. but Scandinavia is not getting any cheaper. That is no fair!!
February 16, 2011 @ 3:55 am
Bijorn said,
Been there couple of time and my poket went dry in no time.
Worse, I found it nothing special if compared to sweden ….
I think the country should be avoided at all cost anyway, as they still (like japan) fish whales. It’s my personal form of strike!
March 27, 2011 @ 4:33 pm
sondre said,
ehm.. norway isn’t that really expensive.. i live there and have no problem after taxes. (36%) to live… so go cry somewhere els…
March 27, 2011 @ 4:43 pm
klaus said,
hahaha awesome Tom. right on. if you are poor cuz wallmart dons’t pay you a good salary.. haha well yeah like mentioned… sod off.
April 6, 2011 @ 5:35 am
hidden keylogger said,
Professional windows keylogger audits typed characters, symbols, digits, special keys and many more from your pc very easily.
April 19, 2011 @ 9:07 pm
Seedy said,
I went to norway with a friend for a few days
We basically camped near the airport in a tent. It was soooooo cold.
But its quite a nice place, Oslo was quite good, and the train journey to Oslo was awesome as well
April 28, 2011 @ 3:12 am
Excel Fix said,
Fix excel files software restore spoiled or damaged ms excel files.
June 7, 2011 @ 2:21 am
Vanessa said,
I’m just back from a 4 days stay in Oslo - and it was SOOOOO expensive (and I live in Brussels, which is already expensive for Americans or Canadians, for instance). Everything cost 2 times the Belgian prices. Some examples: 5 euros for a bottle of water (against 2,50 euros in Brussels in a similar place - 0,40 cts at a supermarket); 18 euros for 2 small sandwiches and 1 bottle of Nestea, 90 euros for a meal at a tex-mex restaurant for 2 persons, 12 euros for 1 Burger King menu, 30 euros (per person) for a 2 hrs cruise round the fjords…
For people wanting to visit Europe, I would recommend other countries, like Spain, Portugal, Germany, France… those countries have very different and scenic landscapes; and they are so much cheaper!! Of course, maybe Paris and London are a bit pricey too, but not as pricey as Oslo!
June 7, 2011 @ 7:36 pm
expat said,
Many people in Norway tend to make their own meals than to eat out, because it is very expensive to eat out. Alcohol is expensive too. Making healthy meals and cutting down on alcohol consumption isn’t so bad from a health perspective.
Cost of living is high, but health care is generally free and the health system is fantastic. That’s where food taxes end up - making sure people are cared for. All individuals. Salaries are also higher for everyone (carpenters, McDonalds workers, office workers, etc). The state does look after people and Norway is a great place for kids.
If someone bumps into you or “invades” your personal space, don’t take personal offence. If someone cuts in line, don’t make a big fuss. Some battles aren’t worth it, especially the smaller stuff. You’ll come across as petty if you make a mountain out of a molehill in the bigger picture of things. If you bump into someone, it’s not a big deal. Norwegians may not always apologize for cutting in or bumping you, but you don’t need to feel too bad if you do the same - as long as your intentions aren’t aggressive. A simple smile or “sorry” is sufficient. People are generally tolerant in Norway.
Norwegians are a lot more reserved and laid back. If you want help, you must ask. Norwegians tend to mind their own businesses and are more passive. They don’t smile so often and strangers don’t talk to each other in an open and loud manner usually. Bearing these things in mind, one must not mistake shyness or being reserved for being cold-hearted.
Sure every country has its fair share of people who are xenophobic. I live in Norway and have travelled to other countries - people are people. There are good and bad. I’ve dealt with xenophobia in every country I’ve been in (including Norway, the USA, Australia, etc), especially in smaller towns further away from the cities where exposure to diversity is lower. That’s just human nature. I’ve also met a lot of good people in all these countries. I’ve met some wonderful Norwegians who expressed their views on cultural diversity and acceptance of visitors in a very positive way.
If you have friends or family in Norway, they tend to open their homes to guests with welcome arms and warm hearts.
Many Norwegians are also very honest people and it is a very safe place for travellers. One of the most secure places in the world.
Yes, it is cold, but good clothing helps. It’s generally easier to rug up in cooler weather than to cool down in very warm weather.
LIke every country, Norway has its pros and cons. I initially moved here to live and work for 1 year. I’ve been here for 5 years now (I even married a Norwegian and had 2 kids!). So it can’t be so bad.
June 23, 2011 @ 4:06 am
Bjorn Stringfellow said,
Norway is a beautiful country and the best things about it are free. When I lived there during the late 90’s it was expensive, when I visited last year it was still as expensive in real terms. If you can’t go on holiday without consuming excessive amounts of alcohol then this isn’t the place for you, you’d be better of at a beach resort in Spain, or if you prefer a cooler climate then why not try Poland? Cheap prices for food, alcohol, accomodation and taxis! However, if you enjoy walking and taking in scenery without sitting on the deck of a cruise ship then why not visit the Hardanger vidda, a mountain plateu with numerous accomodation lodges along mapped routes where you can stay for less than $20 per night (if you don’t mind sleeping in dormitaries); or pack up a trekking tent if you want some privacy and retire to the lodges if the weather turns sour.
Seems to me that what people want from a holiday these days is cheap alcohol, cheap tobacco, cheap accomodation and all night partying - if that’s you then stay away from Norway!
July 19, 2011 @ 3:34 am
yvette said,
Come to South Africa!!!! I live in Durban, hot tropical climate with warm water and stunning beaches. Great for surfing!! 2 hours drive to Swiss like mountains. Can go skiing in Lesotho. Few hours drive from Kruger Park. Great place in winter for Europeans. Cape town voted best destination by tripadvisor. Crime not really an issue. I live here and had no incident of crime, just apply normal stay safe rules. If you are white stay in areas where there is whites and don’t look like a tourist, know where you are going before hand. Food is wonderful here and most things affordable. We went to USA in Jan could hardly eat so expensive. Everything was 7x more than at home. Was a life saver that it was sale season. Going to Norway in March 2012, but we planned it well. It is something of a bucket list, you have to see it at least once. Hope to see you soon is lovely SA!!!!!!
July 26, 2011 @ 4:52 am
keylogger said,
KeyloggerDownload free hidden keylogger Keystroke Logger computer monitoring spy software keyboard keystroke logger tracks office employee children family member computer and internet activity
August 16, 2011 @ 4:32 am
backlink checker said,
Thanks for the this post. There are several things I need to know via this discussion!
August 25, 2011 @ 7:44 am
Troy Schwab said,
Why is Norway so unpleasant? Perhaps it’s the superior attitude of Norwegians summed up by Tom above “If you don’t have the money, do not come to Norway “. Well the rest of us in Europe resent paying a fortune for mediocre and often badly cooked food. It’s not the cost, its the cost combined with the lack of quality. I’m visiting Bergen, and I’ve also noticed the poor service in shops and in restaurants. In shops, you queue for ever to pay as the shops are trying to make even more money by not employing staff. In restaurants, be prepared for offhand and incompetent service. Perhaps this is Bergen, (complacency because of the captive cruiise ship market?) but it has put me off visiting Oslo.
August 29, 2011 @ 3:22 am
Expat in Norway said,
Norway is the most unpleasant country in the world. People are civilized, but extremely cold and totally unfriendly. They are arrogant and what is not Norwegian is nothing for them. Oslo is a total ripp-off, it’s one of the ugliest cities in the world. They have also (because of the weather maybe) the worst roads in Western Europe. Norway is a good country to live for a couple of years to earn some money, after that, go, go, go! Our planet is big enough to find another place, more friendly and with decent prices.
September 3, 2011 @ 6:02 pm
Rita, Ireland said,
I realised Norway was going to be expensive before I booked, but now I’m seriously worried. I am going in 2 days’ time. My idea of a holiday is beautiful scenery - different to what I am used to. So Norway ticks that box. But in the evening I like to enjoy a good meal with one or two libations. Now I fear it’s going to be the proverbial bread and water!
It just may put me off travelling all together. But I am a fan of the Norwegian people. I admire their humanitarianism. I wll approach with an open mind, if with a not sufficiently full purse.
September 4, 2011 @ 2:39 pm
Marianna said,
Just came back from Scandinavia. If you don’t have don’t go to Oslo. Not much to see, dirty, bad service, horrible hotels (except probably for super rich), very bad food, and very limited choices in terms of restaurants, supermarkets, and etc. 30 US dollars for a horrible burger, and almost 5 dollars for a bottle of water - come on! We ended up eating at our horrible room every night with food we bought at a supermarket. Don’t spend your time and money.
I didn’t find Norwegian people very kind and welcoming either.
I have to say: fjords are beautiful! But don’t go to Oslo.
September 9, 2011 @ 4:07 am
αννα καλαβρου said,
i will go to norway at christmas but i really don’t care how expensive country is or about the cold weather and that stuff. I will enjoy my holidays take photos see fjords and my boyfriend:)
September 20, 2011 @ 10:31 am
αννα καλαβρου said,
i’ll go to norway on octomber and I CAN’T WAIT i want to see Oslo,fjords and take pictures and of course see my boyfriend:D:D
October 4, 2011 @ 5:55 pm
Jay said,
First of all, I think stating that places like Paris or Moskow are more expensive places than Norway is silly, as those places are capitals of actual countries. Of course Berlin and Paris and London and Rome and also (here we go) New York are more expensive places to live than Norway, but you cant compare a capital city to a whole country! Fact is: Norway IS very expensive! But ALSO: Norway is very wealthy! The country has a great economy. People earn much more and as a result they have more money to spend. A waitress in Norway would earn about the same as GM in a big company in America. Now, as people who come to Norway on holiday they are accustomed to american wages and prices and therefore will find themselves spending crazy amounts of money on basic things like food, accommodation, tickets, public transport etc. If you wanna go on a holiday in this definitely beautiful and breathtaking country, make sure that you have saved enough money beforehand so that you can really plan and enjoy your trip. There are things to do that do not cost alot but then again: how do you get there? where do you stay? where do you eat? and mainly: do you wanna worry about these things when on holiday?
I am moving to Norway myself this month. I used to live in Germany, now stayed in California for a while. But living there is different, as I said: Great wages woopwoop
October 5, 2011 @ 3:56 pm
bambam said,
Just staying in bergen.
hotels, food, alkohol and cigarettes are very expensive from a german standard. I saw a (500g) burger at a burger shag for 250NOK which right now equals to around 50$. a fallafel will be 15$. fish n chips at the harbor 30$
its a bit like socialism gone insane.
it was a shock, but i believe that on a norwegian sallary it should be manageble and if you actually get to work in norway, your looking at great pension and healthcare benefits.
im probably not going to stay, though
October 9, 2011 @ 9:02 pm
Edmond said,
I have about 5,000 us dollars and that is about 25,000 krone. I know things in Norway are a lot more expensive like a 6in sub sandwich was $8 US vs $3 US in America. With 25k how long would I be able to live in Norway considering bills for 1 bedroom 1 bath and the usual living conditions water,electricity,internet ect? My goal would be to get a job as soon as possible and live there for a year or so. just wondering how much time I would have to find a job.
October 10, 2011 @ 4:44 am
Zip Repair said,
I am following your blog regularly and got great information.
October 12, 2011 @ 6:39 am
MULLEN said,
ZIP REPAIR
YOUR GAY
October 13, 2011 @ 8:49 am
juli said,
Norway is the worst country i have lived ever. Everything was so expensive but with BAD quality. It maybe worth for 2 hrs but absolutely not for a day. and people are quite weird also.
October 15, 2011 @ 11:39 pm
Gabby said,
Norway is VERY expensive, people there are generally not very friendly. First night in Oslo as a tourist and we got pick pocketed of 5000 krones by 2 teenage boys. Be careful, watch out for your wallet! They especially like to eye tourists along quieter stretches of the shopping belt. Ran after the pickpockets while shouting, and nobody on the streets bothered to stop them…only after did a couple offer to call the police. Made a police report and the police did not even ask for the description of the suspects, guess they couldn’t be bothered~ disappointing
October 16, 2011 @ 11:10 pm
easy healthy breakfast said,
easy healthy breakfast
Why would anyone consider any other alternative? I’m in complete agreement with Norway - one of the worst holiday destinations! conclusion.
October 23, 2011 @ 3:02 pm
Norwegian:) said,
Can people stop saying that Norwegians are unpleasant? I think its really annoying that you say all Norwegians are! Yes, Im a Norwegian, and I’m pretty shy. Its not natural for me to go over to a stranger and talk to him, but I’m a really nice person. If a stranger or a tourist go over to talk to me, I’m always nice back, and so are all of my friends, and most of the people I know.
Norwegians have a higher income, so for us its natural that things are more expensive, and when we go on holidays its always very cheap.
The reason we pay so much taxes are because you get money if you can’t work, you get free kindergarden and full education, if you get sick you don’t have to pay for the hospital bills and so on. Because of this there isn’t a big difference between the overclass and the poor people, because the people who earn the most money, pay most taxes. It may sound weird, but at the same time, everyone is more equalized.
I love Norway, because it is such a good country to grow up in. Yes, its cold, but some countries are cold and some are warm, Norway is still a great country. And for you who say the quality is bad, you should do some research online for the restaurants, because there are a lot of great restaurants in norway:)
October 24, 2011 @ 11:00 pm
Sally said,
Im 20 and am leaving for Norway in 4 weeks as my boyfriend lives over there. I have a working holiday visa for a year. Is it hard to find work? As i have read that it is but i am hoping coming up to the christmas period it may be easier?
I wont have to pay for accommodation. Will AU$7000 be enough untill i hopefully find a job?
October 27, 2011 @ 10:59 am
Bjorn Berrisen said,
The only way to visit Norway is to befriend a Norwegian and do a swops holiday…you give him a good time where you are and he looks after you in Norway. This way you get to meet his friends and eat with them all. Norwegians tend to visit each other because going to a bar or restaurant is so expensive This means even if you go to a bar to chat to people there are precious few there and all well separated onto their own tables anyway. So you need to get introduced into people’s homes to meet folk, try their home-cooking, and drink their home-made wine and hooch. Many of them have a country cabin which gives you a nice location.
Don’t forget to take into Norway your full complement of Tax-Free booze…you’ll need it!
October 29, 2011 @ 1:29 am
Cheryl said,
Im going to norway soon….my bf is a Norwegian and he paid for my ticket….never been to norway and this is my first experience…..After reading all the comments, im gona go there and experience norway myself…most importantly being able to visit my bf….anyone have any ideas on how to work im norway? I Think im confused cuz they r so many rules by the government for the foreigners….im planning to Get into a pre school, day care or nanny job..how much wud i earn??? Will i Get it….any Norwegian????
October 29, 2011 @ 4:04 pm
Son of Norway said,
As an ethnic Norwegian born in America who has spent time there… I can say it is beautiful, it is expensive, the girls vaginas DO all smell like fish due to the lutefisk diet, and it is generally the most miserable place you’ll ever visit. It’s why despite all the talk about how great socialism is over there, they have as high a suicide rate as anywhere in the world besides Japan, (where it’s tradition and ritual based). The drugs are very good and easily available though since everybody uses them to get through their miserable daily lives. (Wouldn’t you if no matter what you did you could never be more than part of the proletariat? There is no reason to ever attempt to succeed.) I’d kill myself with intravenous heroin and methamphetamine too. Visit Norway if you want to kill yourself and need that extra little push to do so.
November 4, 2011 @ 1:50 pm
Klaus F. said,
@Son of Norway
It’s a myth that Norway has got such a high suicide rate.
Ranked by males, Norway has a lower suicide rate than the US and UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_suicide_rate
November 11, 2011 @ 6:31 am
JohnR said,
Expensive, cold, boring, rude people, terrible food, distinct lack of culture and no word for “please”!!
November 11, 2011 @ 6:31 am
JohnR said,
I forgot to mention quite racist!!
November 15, 2011 @ 3:46 am
Stan Kraut said,
Hello travellers,
this link gives you loads of info:
http://welcometonorway.wordpress.com/
November 16, 2011 @ 10:34 am
AB said,
The cost of living in Norway is very ridiculous. It was my worst trip interms of cost but has a beautiful scenary. Not worth the cost.
November 24, 2011 @ 4:19 am
American in Bergen said,
I’m an American living in Bergen for the last 6 years. I am well traveled, and consider Bergen to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The comments about Norwegians being rude or unpleasant are BS. They are simply reserved. If you make friends with them, they are extremely warm people. They are well educated as well — more so than the average American.
This is also absolutely the best place to raise kids, bar none. Not only is the education free, but kids can go outside and play without having to watch over them like hawks. It is safe for them to walk or bike to visit friends or take the bus into the city center to see a movie. It’s rather like the US of the 1950’s.
The scenery is simply stunning, with the fjords (the western fjords) and the mountains. Life here is an outside event, with lots of walking, hiking, skiing, boating, etc. It’s a healthy lifestyle.
I don’t care for Oslo. It’s a typical capital city, with crime you don’t find elsewhere in Norway, and a bit seemy. If you get out of Oslo, you will find the true Norway.
It is costly, but you just have to be smart. In the US, we ate out perhaps 4 nights a week, sometimes more. Here, it’s a special event, so perhaps once or twice a month. I actually think that’s good for the family, though, and we have honed our cooking skills in response. However, consider that Norway is not a foodie destination like France or Italy — here you just want to eat for sustenance. If you take that approach, you won’t be dissapointed or broke when you leave. Save your restaurant splurging for other destinations.
Things are indeed expensive, but tolerable if you have a Norwegian income. If you have a US income, an extended stay will be difficult unless you’re careful. However, it is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I wouldn’t want to raise my kids anywhere else. Period.
December 1, 2011 @ 2:59 pm
Sarah said,
Norway is amazing, just don’t go to Oslo. Oslo is not the real Norway. Try Jotunheimen instead, absolutely beautiful. If you really want to visit a city, try Trondheim instead.
Eat Norwegian meatballs and lapskaus and ostpølse med bacon.
Norwegians are NOT rude. They are reserved and their culture is different. I think the family life in Norway is simply wonderful, with everyone gathering together for a meal or for coffee and cake and a long talk. Sadly this is lacking where I live (UK).
It may get cold outside but they know how to heat their buildings. Try bringing appropriate clothing with you.
Stop bitching about a beautiful country just because it’s expensive.
I married a Norwegian in Norway. Once we have the money and I have learned Norwegian, we will move there. I can’t wait because it’s so much better than here.
JohnR, there are words which mean please. try “vær så snill”.
December 1, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
Nikolai said,
I live in Norway and most of what you guys are saying is utter rubbish.
Norway is an expensive country because of the fact that we pay very high taxes, which is the very reason for the great standard of living. Free health care, free dental care, economical assistance for parents, unemployed people and so on.
The reason you Americans find everything so expensive is probably because the US dollar is worth like half of what it used to.
Also, the larger cities like Oslo are very expensive, for a Norwegian from outside of the capital, a trip to Spain would be cheaper than going to Oslo.
I recommend for all of you to skip Oslo, which is a shithole full of drugs, rapists, and immigrants behaving badly. You should rather come to the Northern Parts of Norway, Mo i Rana for instance is a pretty major city by northern standards, with several quite major tourist attractions, friendly and helpfull locals, and beautiful nature. We mostly get British and Germsn tourists up here, and everyonr speaks fluent English. I’m 15 years old btw, so i hope i’ve convinced you of our English skills.
December 1, 2011 @ 5:26 pm
Nikolai said,
I live in Norway and most of what you guys are saying is utter rubbish.
Norway is an expensive country because of the fact that we pay very high taxes, which is the very reason for the great standard of living. Free health care, free dental care, economical assistance for parents, unemployed people and so on.
The reason you Americans find everything so expensive is probably because the US dollar is worth like half of what it used to.
Also, the larger cities like Oslo are very expensive, for a Norwegian from outside of the capital, a trip to Spain would be cheaper than going to Oslo.
I recommend for all of you to skip Oslo, which is a shithole full of drugs, rapists, and immigrants behaving badly. You should rather come to the Northern Parts of Norway, Mo i Rana for instance is a pretty major city by northern standards, with several quite major tourist attractions, friendly and helpfull locals, and beautiful nature. We mostly get British and Germsn tourists up here, and everyonr speaks fluent English. I’m 15 years old btw, so i hope i’ve convinced you of our English skills.
Oh, and if you want to say “please”, the correct term would be “vær så snill”.
December 2, 2011 @ 12:43 am
Qaiser Latif said,
NEW ROSE INDUSTRIES
3km,Pasrur Road,
Sialkot-51310- Pakistan
Tel: + 92-52-3540077
Fax: +92-52-3540078
E.mail: info@newroseind.com
CATALOGUE AVAILABLE
********************************************************* *******
Dear Sir ,
We are proud to introduce ourselves as one of the leading Manufacturers and Exporters and Supplier related to Police & Law Enforcement Gloves :-
Police ProtectiveGloves/Police Firefighter Gloves/ Training Gloves/Armband/Sports Gloves/Motorbike Gloves/Tactical Gloves/Security Gloves/Leather Black Gloves/Fleece Gloves/Hatch Gloves/Combat Gloves/Hand Protective Gloves,Nomex Flight Gloves/ Cold weather Thinsulate Leather Police Gloves/Nomex Flight Gloves etc,.
:-
Please view our two website : www.newroseind.com and www.new-rose.com to choose the items you are interested , we will be fortunate enough to have your orders and will be pleased to have good business relations with you. Our team is committed to satisfying the Customer in terms of quality, on time delivery and Best Service.
If you have your own design for production sampling and price information , contact us on our email address.info@newroseind.com
Yours early feedback will be highly appreciated by us.
Thanking You
Regards
Qaiser Latif
(Partner)
New Rose Industries
Sialkot-Pakistan
December 8, 2011 @ 8:32 am
Paul Smenis said,
If you want to experience Norway as Norwegians do, Norway isn’t expensive (I’ve lived here for 12 years), but if you want a touristy style experience with typical restaurants and bars, Norway will become VERY expensive. as far as drinking goes, Norwegians often drink at somebody’s house before moving on somewhere, which is obviously not so expensive. Also tourists often end up at bars in areas aimed at tourists which have higher prices.
I their spare time, Norwegians will stay in a basic cabin out in nature. They eat fairly simple, hearty, cosy food, swim in lakes, walk in the forest, climb mountains or cross-country ski. This is what Norway is about, not expensive bars in Oslo, if you want bars, restaurants and nightlife, you’ve come to the wrong place. To experience the best of Norway costs virtually nothing, but some tourists are just looking for city-breaks and will be disappointed. Away from the cities, people are very friendly and hospitable. I’ve arrived at a shared cabin in the middle of the night and people already there invited me to a great meal of reindeer stew, with plenty of red wine.
It’s a great place to come to, but think about what you’re looking for in a holiday first.
December 8, 2011 @ 10:15 am
eddy said,
just been reading some of the comments and i have to agree with nearly all them except the last ones
ive been living in stavanger for over 3 years and cant wait to leave, i came here for work because i was told that its a good place to live and you get treated well,
how wrong can they have been !
the people are rude, ignorant, greedy and very boring
the cost of living is out of this world, a gas station burger and frys cost around 160 nok and a 1 bed appartment will set you back 10-14000 nok a mth
this is a country that prides itself on a no tip culture, good because there is no such thing as customer service
the supermarkets have no choice and you pay premium prices for rotten fruit and veg
you cant buy alcohol after 6pm and anything stronger than 6% you have to buy from a dictatorship run bottle shop that has limited opening hours
i can go on for ages about the weather (always raining and cold) no summer, dark damp winters and snow for months but i leave it up to you because you might like that
the drivers are the worst ive ever seen and ive driven in tiawan, middle east and france so take care and try not to run anyone over because people will just walk out infront of you without even looking
the health service is not free and hope you have good teeth because the dentists drive the most expensive cars you can buy-say no more
unless you are registered in norway you have to pay 1000 nok for a 10 min trip to a private Dr and once you are registered it will still cost 200 + nok and you will have to wait for ages to see them
IN SHORT UNLESS YOU LEAD A LIFE OF A ZOMBIE OR YOU ARE A LOTTO WINNER DONT EVEN BOTHER COMING HERE, ITS A COUNTRY THAT HASNT CHANGED MUCH FROM THE VIKINGS EXCEPT THEY FOUND OIL, GOT THE AMERICANS AND THE ENGLISH TO DIG IT OUT AND REAPED THE PROFITS TO FUND A VERY FEW
December 12, 2011 @ 8:11 am
tim said,
I have been to over 30 countries and have unfortunately had to visit Norway lots of times and agree with nearly everything on this site but will sum them up again just so people are clear……. DO NOT GO TO NORWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
1. stupidly expensive for everything especially alcohol (yes £10 a beer).
4. getting every cent possible out of every tourist is national hobby.
2.Although you get paid more you actually get less than the rest of Europe due to high taxes and high prices and massive heating bills.
3.not being part of the eu means awful selection in shops.
4. Its so rainy so often people have to wear wellington boots all the time.
5.its so cold in winter you might as well never bother going out.
6.summer only lasts about 1 month.
7.skiing is rubish compared to the alps.
8. You cant even have one beer and drive.
9. norweigian is a very diffiult and pointless language to learn.
10. Norwegian people are very obedient, nobody will drink a cold beer on a hot day in the park or beach just because it is against the rules.
11. only tiny shops can open on a sundays.
12. restaurants are more often than not terrible.
13. television is all rubish and norweigian humour is strange.
December 14, 2011 @ 4:04 am
Eric said,
Yes norway is an expensive, but when people from norway go visit the us they think everything is really cheap… t-shirts etc costs 8 times as much in norway, but it all balances out due to their higher monthly income. and the high taxes are stupid, but they include free medical care if you end up in a hospital, which is pretty usefull if you’re an unlucky person.
There are more expensive places to go visit.. france.. italy.. denmark and so on.
But when it comes to the nature, norway is stunning.. and denmark got no mountains what so ever (bummer).
And tim, i’ve noticed that alot of the programs on norwegian television is actually from america. so it’s pretty much the same humor, but they got a few norwegian shows aswell..
and not beeing a part of the eu is just a perk, which they seems to enjoy to the fullest.
You can’t really say that norway is a bad place to go to, the first time i was there i was dissapointed, but i came to realise that you can’t judge norway before beeing all over the place. it is a beautiful country (yes it’s expensive) with fresh fish, bread etc (just ask locals where to get it). and there are alot of resturants making the same food as in the us. there is Mcdonalds and burgerking in norway, along with greek, chineese and italian resturants mostly.
December 19, 2011 @ 2:11 pm
peder said,
So true tim so true:-))) i live in norway and i realy agree with you:-)))
December 20, 2011 @ 12:16 am
Norwegian girl said,
I dont understand all the bitching over waterbottles. Here we drink tapwater, and it wont make you sick. And it’s FREE.
I dont work, still me and my bf has an income at 6300US$ a month.. We live in a house with 3 bedrooms and pays 1500 and that is WITH electrisity.
My childrens future is secured when it comes to education, healtcare-system, im not afraid to let them play outside alone.
Im born and raised in Trondheim, never been muged, never been assulted+++
Yes we norwegians is reserved, we dont talk to stangers because we are raised that way. We don’t get into each others private space unless we now them.
But get to know us and we are a very loving people:)
December 23, 2011 @ 1:42 pm
lived there..and there and there... said,
The whole of Scandiland is expensive…you want scandiwomens,go to Spain,Northern lights , North of Sweden , Fjords visit New Zealand … but if you wanna complain about the price of everything …visit Norway ..ps post above ..your water is not free …!!!
January 2, 2012 @ 1:03 pm
Karl B said,
Water is free. What are you talking about?
))))
Anyway,
The big point in this is that Norway is a wonderful breathtaking place to live and to visit. We are considered the richest country in the world by a mixed result of health, education and income. Yes we have 10 years of free obligated school and another 3 free years of voluntary school. After that there is college or university which the government will also support you through, if you live on your own and such.
We have free health care, so if I break my leg or get a sudden illness, I will not be troubled by a huge bill.
And we even have good democracy, and a good monarchy. (The king hold no politic power or influence. He shall be a good representative for this nation, and I personally believe that he is much better than a President. Of course if the King should become ill minded, then we are forced to remove him.)
But over to the vacation point of my comment.
Norway is one of the best places for holiday that you can find on this planet. No questions asked. We’re a long and wide country with the seventh longest coast line in the world. In the south east is of course the capital Oslo which is a center for urban entertainment and shopping. To the south you will find thousands of small islands which are perfect for sailing and boat vacation, even swimming. On the long west coast you will find the most breath taking fjords in the world, and also the cities Bergen, ålesund and Molde, which are great for history, culture and they along the northern place of lofoten make the very core for why norwegians moved out and onto the coast. The fish.
And in the north you will find vast open areas of lakes and flat mountains. And in the winter you will see snow as far as the eye reaches, and the reindeer crossing the great areas. And of course not to mention the northern lights. Norway is the best place for this sight in my opinion, because people actually live so far north in norway. they live there, grow up there and knows the land and skies better than anyone. They could tell exactly when is the best time to see the lights and where it is best seen. But of course you could also go to Sweden and let a scientist or guide explain to you what it is. But if you want a special experience then go there.
When it comes to money, and expenses, I would say Norway perfectly normal. Yes normal. A norwegian makes, compared to other nations as the US, a lot of money. But again we use a lot of money on everyday things. Just like you do. The US is rich compared to Egypt. An egyptian can not afford a holiday in the US without spending agreat % of his income. So for us the price is normal. But for you it would seem expensive. We are not trying to fool with the prices
They are normal to our income.
ALL IN ALL, save up money if you are coming here, because if we really are the richest country in the world then every country is poorer, including the US.
WE ARE NOT RICH, learn about money and stuff please! Please stop saying we are sooooo expensive. ://
We are a beautiful country with beautiful nature, beautiful people and beautiful weather. My fingers are cramping up.
I’m sorry for not writing in complete sence…
January 8, 2012 @ 5:59 pm
Rod... said,
I have visited Norway 3 times to go skiing in the hardangervidda and rondane. These are pretty spectacular places. Beer was more expensive than scotland but not so much that I couldn’t have a couple with dinner - mind you it wasn’t Oslo. The people were fine and friendly enough for me.
Would love to go back some time. I think it may be the case that it would be enjoyed more by people that like the outdoors and nature and may disappoint those going for a city break type holiday. Even so, having been in the countryside I am now curious about what Oslo has to offer!
January 9, 2012 @ 1:16 pm
welfare monkey said,
most of the comments are just useless. It’s a page on worst holidays, not a promotional campaign who has the best health care.
So it seems the saddening weather is no longer an issue then? And the remote location in Europe? Congratulations! Also I like the Norwegian flag because it reminds me a lot of the nazi flag. That scandinavian cross looks awfully familiar…
January 17, 2012 @ 10:58 am
Canadian Boy said,
A vacation here would be expensive if you are not careful. I live and work here and have learned how to keep the costs down to a reasonable level. Yes, it’s expensive here but I just did a Euro tour and most places are expensive! Every country loves raping the tourist, wrong but just how it is. Don’t travel if your tight with your money, it will stress you, take it to the grave with you instead! Most Norwegian’s seem content with things here so who are we to bitch, it’s their country they didn’t invite us. I happen to like it here in Bergen. It’s a beautiful city just the right size (for me) with shy but polite people. (just stay out of the bars on weekends when they do their drinking) If you instigate a conversation they have always been more then happy to talk or help and even go out of their way to help! Job interviews have been laid back and stress free. You get a relaxed crime free feeling here which is rare in most cities/countries. The wages that everyone say are so high are not in my trade of “Welding”. I will be lucky to make close to what I made in Canada, (but I’m here to live with my Spanish fiance who is a nurse working here).
The only thing that could make me leave here is the long dark wet winters, the rain never seems to stop! (but in Canada today it was -35 with wind chill) =S
Overall we like living here. Yes, the food may be better in Spain and the cost living less elsewhere but everything considered, we can be happy here! =)
January 17, 2012 @ 11:45 pm
Elisabeth said,
I really don’t understand some of these comments. I’m not sure how to get my point across without copying what others have written before me, but I’ll try. First of all, Norway may be expensive for you. But not for Norwegians, so our prices isn’t ‘ridicilous’. We don’t base our prices on tourists, but on the income of the people who actually live in this country. And for the love of god, water IS FREE. Tapwater won’t make you sick, come on… The prices that’s mentioned over here is exaggurated. It doesn’t cost 8 dollars or euros for a sodabottle, and it doesn’t cost 10-14.000 NOK a mounth for a one bedroom apartment, not even in the centre of Oslo. And keep in mind that the weather depends on where in the country you’re staying. In the south, they usually have good summers, but more rain in the fall and winter. In the north the sun is up all day in the summer, and it’s darker outside then in for example Oslo in the winter. Bergen is also called ‘the rainy city’, but it’s still a beautiful place. It’s a safe place to stay, not a lot of crime. People may not be as open as you’re used to, but if you ask a question or talk to us, most will be friendly. And they understand you, because we all speak english, I’m 16 myself. I live in Oslo, and I personally think it’s a place you could stay for a few days, but if you want a real experience of the beautiful nature Norway has to offer, go somewhere else. But we do actually have forests, waters and a lot of nature, compared to a lot of other capitals. And one thing I’m sick and tired of hearing about is the weather. We do have nice summers, I prefer 20 degrees celsius, instead of 40 c and not being able to move without dying of thirst. It can rain in the fall and spring, but it’s not THAT bad. Spring is my favourite time of the year, because it’s not too warm and not to cold, and usually nice weather. And I love the winter. It makes the entire country look like a fairytale, absolutely beautiful. Yes it’s cold, but there is nothing better then being out in the snow, skiing for example - and then sit in front of a fireplace, or crawl under a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate. I love skiing, ice skating, snowboarding, hiking, and horseback riding. And for me, Norway’s perfect. If you like to experience things, being active and seeing beautiful nature - come to Norway. I’f you like to get drunk with other tourists, and lay on a beach that looks exactly like the one at home, go somewhere else, ’cause that’s when you get disappointed. I won’t go on about what a great place it is to live, but I will say this; I’m really glad we pay alot in taxes. For example, I think it’s horrible that someone can actually die from cancer because they can’t afford medical care. Or that you can get fired for no reason at all, and not get any support until you get a new job. Like you can in the US, that could never happen here. So saying that it’s a crappy country is just bullshit. And there’s a reason why Norway is rated one of the best countries to live in, in the entire world, remember that. On a less serious note - you should definitively try some traditional, norwegian food as well! Some of it is horrible, but some is great. Don’t miss out… I don’t like snails, but that doesn’t mean that I’ll only eat at McDonalds when I’m in France. And I’ve been quite a lot of countries, and the quality of food and restaurant meals are no worse than in US, UK, or anywhere else. And I have to finish by saying that if you ever visit Scandinavia, Sweden and Denmark can’t be compared. Nice countries, but it’s a fact that they don’t have as much various landscape as Norway. Sorry for the very, very long comment, but I can’t stop myself… As a conclusion - come and visit us! I promise that if I ever meet you, I will be friendly if you talk to me, I won’t rob or rape you, and I won’t ‘look down on you’. It’s basically a nice place to be a tourist
January 18, 2012 @ 8:27 pm
lanii said,
hi elizabeth, i apply as a nanny there in norway my bf’s cousin told me the people there are super mabait (kindhearted). but with the prices that i read in all the comment im afraid how will i survive with my salary? do you have any idea how much they pay for a nanny? thanx
January 21, 2012 @ 4:32 pm
Toad said,
Norway is beautifull but very expensive.And people who say they get free health care and kindergarden are liars or dont understand the word free.You have to pay to see a doctor (until you have paid around 2000kr in one year)and you pay for kindergarden per term and dont get discount or refund if child isnt there, dentists are nearly all private.But these points arent important for the traveler,.And people are very shy and can be seen as rude ie they dont hold doors open for you ,dont understand queing
January 24, 2012 @ 3:38 am
Vee said,
I’m planning on going to Norway during summer next year, and I thought I’d go on this website just to see what positive AND negative things people have to say.
The only thing I’ve learned from this website is the narrow-mindedness, disgusting disrespect of other countries and just plain bitching and complaining of the average yank or any other spoilt-rotten Westerner.
I, myself am from Australia, and even if living expenses in Norway are well above average for what I’m used to, at least I’ll be supporting local Norwegian industries instead of fucking cheap, child labour “made in China” crap we get force-fed here in Aus (and I’m sure across most of the world). So a big, fat FUCK YOU to the haters, you make me sick with anger.
Thank you to the lovely Norwegian locals and open-minded tourists for the honest pros and cons worth reading about, and to everyone else just saying it’s shit because big macs are $13, go fuck yourselves (and your big macs).
Particular thanks to Elizabeth, you gave me the best insight. I love people who stand up for a country worth standing up for. *thumbs up*
January 25, 2012 @ 3:25 am
Rod said,
Vee,
Look forward to fantastic scenery. If your outdoors oriented you will be spoilt for choice. The Norwegians are maybe a little reserved but also nice and helpful. I’ve been 3 times in winter (really stunning) and look forward to going back sometime. I’ve not done the city break thing though or seen Oslo - Lilliehammer looked lovely.
The food (traditional) was also good and interesting. Watch out for the sour cream porridge though - don’t eat too much;) The airport in Oslo may have been the nicest one I’ve been in.
Rod
February 1, 2012 @ 4:33 pm
Finn said,
Just have to say, as a Norwegian, I find it absolutely HILARIOUS that Norway made the top of the list. I have to say, I really understand where this is coming from. Norwegians think it’s expensive, too. We usually go on holiday someplace cheap, so, yeah ..
But you can say NOTHING against our nature. It’s simply the most beautiful landscapes on Earth, I am sure of it.
February 1, 2012 @ 4:34 pm
Norwegian said,
If you’re visiting Norway, you should go se the nature, not the cities. You should go fishing, walking in the montains, hunting, and do lots of other nature stuff. And skiing is the best in Norway!
February 2, 2012 @ 3:11 pm
Miky said,
Norway? BEST holidays ever - wa had a month trip from Czech Republic to Nordkapp and back, hitchhiking all the way and spent ~700 USD for both of us xD. We took most food with us and made awesome trips in the wilderness. We met so many kind people and enjoyed our stay a lot - spending much less money than we would have at home. Ofc it wasnt at all comfortable, but we went there to see the country and its people, not eat and buy souvenirs.
February 3, 2012 @ 6:36 pm
Per said,
Well, people have different experiences.
I live in Oslo, I am able to buy a pint of beer at 29 kr ($ 4,5) at my local bar across the street (and i live in western part of the town.
I can eat out down the street for 49 kr ( $8), get cotton pants (cargo pants, khakis etc.) at 99 ($ 16) kr at Dressmann. Roasted/barbecued chicken legs are 50 kr/kg ($4/lb) at REMA 1000, a loaf of freshly baked bread is 6 kr($1).
The trouble is that there are fine exepensive places, and rotten exepensive places, and visitors are often lured by the ads the rotten places can afford to place in the tourist brochures.
The rents are lower than in London, Stockholm, Paris, Rome , Barcelona and New York.